ABILENE, Texas – The UT Arlington Mavericks broke open a close game with a four-run fifth inning and rode strong relief pitching to an 11-6 victory over Abilene Christian on Friday night at Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Ballpark.
The win moved UTA to 5-5 in Western Athletic Conference play. After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning, the Mavericks responded with three runs in the third.
Preston Knott walked and advanced to third on a fielder's choice that saw
Hank Harp reach on an error, then
Xavier Melendez drove in Knott with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Xander McAfee followed with an RBI
single before
Noah Fields doubled to deep center field, plating two more runs to give UTA a 3-1 advantage.
Austin Phillips extended the lead with a solo home run in the fourth inning, his third of the season.
The Mavericks broke the game open in the fifth. McAfee doubled down the left field line and Fields drew a walk before
Zach Mazoch delivered an RBI single to center.
Ethan Ho then launched a three-run home run to left field, his second of the year, pushing the lead to 8-4.
UTA added single runs in the sixth and ninth innings. McAfee's second double of the night drove in Harp in the sixth, and Harp came through again in the ninth with a two-run single that scored
Harold Laracuente and Knott.
McAfee paced the offense with a 3-for-4 performance, scoring three runs and driving in one while collecting two doubles and two stolen bases. Laracuente, Knott, Harp and Fields each recorded two hits, while Ho's three-run homer highlighted a strong night at the plate for the Mavericks, who finished with 14 hits.
Caylon Dygert earned the win, working 5.1 innings and allowing six runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Merek Sears provided 2.1 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts, and
Hayes Melville closed out the final 1.1 innings to record his fourth save of the season.
Abilene Christian's Aidan Coleman took the loss, allowing eight runs on 10 hits over 4.2 innings.
PITCHING PROFILE
- Caylon Dygert improved to 4-4 on the season with the victory, navigating through traffic early before turning the ball over to the bullpen.
- Merek Sears delivered a critical middle-relief performance, stranding inherited runners and keeping Abilene Christian off the board through the sixth and seventh innings. Hayes Melville locked down his fourth save with a clean finish.
ON DECK
The Mavericks and Wildcats continue the series Saturday at 3 p.m., with the series finale scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games are available on ESPN+.
-#BuckEm-
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